When families can afford the basics, they can reinvest in their communities, and higher wages means a broader consumer base for businesses.

We've created more wealth in the past 30 years than the rest of human of human history combined. But half of Americans make less than $17 an hour.

A September 2015 poll found that, by a 3-1 margin, voters are more likely to support political candidates who favor raising the minimum wage.

The vast majority (over 80 percent) of fast-food and similar low wage service jobs (<$9.24/hr) are held by adults. A quarter are adults over 40. Another quarter are moms raising kids.

Annual earnings in the fast-food industry are well below the income needed for self-sufficiency, and fast-food industry jobs are also much less likely than other jobs to provide health benefits.

When families can afford the basics, they can reinvest in their communities, and higher wages means a broader consumer base for businesses.

People decide what markets should do - they are not a force of nature.